Mayor Ed Lee and several supervisors supporting the LGBT community today announced the provision of $1.8 million in city funding for HIV/AIDS care and treatment services to offset cuts in federal funding for those services.
Mayor Ed Lee and several supervisors supporting the LGBT community today announced the provision of $1.8 million in city funding for HIV/AIDS care and treatment services to offset cuts in federal funding for those services.
Joined by Supervisors Scott Wiener, David Campos and Christina Olague, Lee made the announcement on the steps of City Hall this morning that the city would provide the reserve funding to continue services–including hospice and housing–through June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
The $1.8 million in funding was eliminated by Congress in its most recent budget bill. This supplemental funding restoration will maintain primary care services and critical support services for San Franciscans living with HIV/AIDS.
“Despite continued historic budget challenges, we remain committed to funding critical care services for those living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco,” Lee said.
In years past, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has championed funding for the care of people living with HIV/AIDS through the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act.
“Our city showed the nation that comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and services work, save lives, and save money by keeping people healthy and productive,” Pelosi said in a statement read at this morning’s news conference.
Officials said that the federal cuts mean the city will lose out on $5 million annually that would serve uninsured and underinsured people afflicted with the disease. According to city officials, more than half the people living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco do not have private health insurance.
“We in San Francisco have a lot to be proud of and we should not go backwards,” Campos said, noting that San Francisco has served as “an example for the rest of the country” in terms of providing services to improve the quality of life for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS.
Wiener echoed the need to maintain funding to support those living with HIV/AIDS. “Over my dead body are we going to retreat in our commitment to provide services to the community,” he said.
“This will literally save lives, for it will ensure that basic HIV/AIDS services are provided to the most vulnerable in our community,” Campos said.
Wiener and Campos approached Lee for his support of the budget supplemental, and Wiener said Lee “did not hesitate” and has been “enthusiastic and rock solid in his support.” The supplemental still needs to be approved by the full board and was to be introduced at this afternoon’s weekly meeting.
Olague, the newly appointed supervisor who Monday assumed the seat vacated by Ross Mirkarimi when he was sworn in as sheriff over the weekend–is the third board member of the board’s LGBT caucus.
“It’s unconscionable that we wouldn’t do all that we can” to ensure that people affected by the disease have access to all that they need,” she said.
According to Laura Thomas, who serves as the San Francisco director of the Drug Policy Alliance and has 20 years of experience in HIV and public health policy, more people with the disease are living in San Francisco than ever, but there is less federal funding and no state funding to pay for HIV/AIDS-related services.
“We are a city of compassion and justice, and we are willing to step up” and provide the services those with HIV/AIDS need to maintain a decent quality of life, Thomas said.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
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